| Sender Location | 10 South Street, Park Lane [London] |
| Administrative History | - Eliza Limb, born about 1830, living at Up Hollow, Holloway
- Rosey Limb, born about 1866, a servant in the household of Cassandra Peach of Holloway (1881 census). Her brother, Charles Newton Limb was married at Ashover on 24 December 1879 to Phillis Spendlove.
- Harriet Broomhead, born about 1823, living in Holloway
- Harriet Limb, born about 1862, living at Up Hollow, Holloway
- William Yeomans of Holloway House: land agent to the Nightingale family and Poor Law Guardian
- Harriet Broomhead, born about 1823, living in Holloway
- Hannah Allen, born about 1801, and her sister Ann Allen, born about 1824, living in Lea Road and later Haslam Lane, Holloway
- Elizabeth Holmes, born about 1858, living at Commonside, Holloway with her parents, William and Mary Holmes
- Mrs Swann: a local nurse, not otherwise identified
- Patty Cottrell: probably a daughter of Peter and Grace Cotterill/Cottrell of Bonsall
- Robert Wildgoose, manager of Smedley's Mill
- Mary, wife of John Bratby, former servant to the Nightingale family, living in retirement in Holloway
- Mary Gregory, born about 1805, living at Commonside, Holloway (1871 census)
- Adam Prince, born about 1846, living at Holloway
- Alfred Peach, born about 1852, living at Common, Holloway (1881 census)
- Fanny Dowding: Florence Nightingale's maid
Sources: Civil registration indexes, 1871 and 1881 census |
| Transcript or Index | 10 South St.
Park Lane W.
10/1/80
My dear Sir
I am very much obliged to you for your report of our Patients.
1. I am thankful to hear that Mrs Limb is so well attended to under the new regime & so much less suffering. I know you will be so kind as to enquire after Rose Limb (morally not physically) when you visit the mother. This child, for I think she is only 12, declared that if she did not like her new sister-in-law, she should leave the house & set up ^for herself^ elsewhere (This is the harm the Mill does - girls of 13 think they owe no allegiance, if they can earn their own bread)
If this fit of rebellion has, as I earnestly trust, passed away, I would not revive the possibility of her doing such a thing.
Rose Limb is frightfully spoiled. Tho' she is put to school at no expence [sic] to them, she is allowed to go or not as she pleases.
I know you will kindly ask what she is doing.
(The girls at Holloway are a heavy anxiety: so much dress: so little putting by money or even mending their own clothes.
Many a girl who begs of me spends more money on herself not only [crossed through] relatively, but [crossed through] and in a few instances absolutely, than I do.)
I hope Harriet Limb has entered the Women's Club & is paying besides a monthly sum into Mr Yeomans' hands for the P. O. Savings Bank (which I doubt.)
2. Widow Broomhead I am grateful for your care of her. It is, I suppose, wonderful how she lasts on amid such suffering. Pray order her anything you think right.
The day before I came away she asked me for some flannel. It was impossible for me to send for it then, but I took the opportunity of telling her that she might order it for herself & send the bill to Mr Yeomans, on condition that her daughter entered the Women's Club, and that her son (who earns 22/- a week) would put money into Mr Yeomans' hands, which I would double.
I have heard since that she did not get the flannel, because it was not to be had at the Co-op Stores. Surely this is very helpless. Could not a neighbour get it for her at Cromford or Matlock?
Pardon my troubling you with these details.
2
3. Hannah Allen. I am very sorry that my old friend, the Prophetess, is so ill again. She has 2lbs of meat a week from me: besides milk & cocoatine, some money & other things. And I obtained for her from the Mill a pension of 3/ a week.
But if you think other things requisite please let me know. And please tell me if the damp in the house is really remedied.
I am really glad Ann is so much better, thanks to you.
4. Lizzie Holmes. I suppose will never be strong again. I am thankful she is better.
Her mother is one of the very best women I know - of anywhere.
Most glad am I to hear of the improvement in Buxton Nursing.
Could you tell me who is the present Matron? and where from?
I trust that the water supply will be obtained.
Is the pig extinct near Mrs Limb's well?
Would you kindly remember me to Mrs Swann and tell her I have not succeeded (I hardly expected it) in finding Patty Cottrell a suitable place. I hope she has, for Mr Wildgoose has promised in that prospect not to take her on at the Mill.
I am giving you much trouble.
I have been so ill & overworked since I returned to London that I must ask you kindly to take this too true apology for my not writing.
I hope Mrs Bratby is better for the removal of the abominable cess pit overflow. Is she thinking of Ramsgate?
Pray believe me my dear Sir with kind regards to Mrs Dunn, if I may be allowed to send them
ever yours faithfully
Florence Nightingale
Like a woman I have two or 3 P.S.S:
poor old Widow Gregory: I suppose she is not gone to the Union? Adam Prince: is he keeping sober? Alfred Peach: I am afraid to ask after.
F.N.
[remaining text in pencil]
C.B.N. Dunn Esq.
I cannot say my Fanny is much better. She has taken your "Nux Vomica" pills & your Bismuth (Granular) & Iron when I remind her Her digestion, if she is vey careful of what she eats, is better But she is weak, especially in the back: and complains of pain in the back when she sta[?]s |